Governing mechanism for elastic-fluid turbines.



R.-N.BHRHAIT. GOVERNING MECHANISM FOR ELASTIC FLUID TURBINES. APPLICATION TILED MAB. 19,1806.

984,432. Patented Sept. 21, 1909.

WITNESSES: '2. g. 2 g I i ML Mir ATTORNEY RAYMOND N; EI-IRH =r IHGEOUSE j Application filed March 19,

To cii whom it niayroucern; 1 .Be it known thatllt-iynon'n N. EHR- Ham, aJcitiZenpi the United States, and a resident of'Pittsburg, in the county of Alle- 5 ghenya and State a. of Pennsylvania, have made aznew-ianduseful Invention in Governing ilvlechanisnr or Elastic-Fluid Turbines, of which the following is a specification;

This invention relates to elastic fluid-turbines-andhas forian object the production of improved governingmechanisms for turbines. a

In turbines provided with a plurality of motive fluid nozzles to which the motive fiuidis supplied in automatically regulable a1nounts,in accordance with the load demand as made manifest by the variations of the speedv otst-he turbine, it isnecessary, for a nefli-cient operation of the turbine, to proportion-thenumber of nozzles, efi'ective in admitting. motive fluid to the turbine,rin accordance withthe amount of motive fluid supplied, orin acco'rdal'lce with the load de 'mand. 'This invention, broadly, consists in providing a t'nrbinewwith a governor-controlled main supply valveandwith means for automatically proportioning the number of effective nozzles: in accordance with the amountkofmotivefluid supplied. I a

' Tlie e'n'ibodimentof my invention as herein'fiilust'famd comprises a turbine provided withalniain su iplyvalve which is adapted 35 to supp motive fluid to the working paspails; the duration of the putt, or

" fluid supplicd,being propor- 'tlemm'ltl or to then-aria- -1'Tli6 operatin 'mechanisn fof lhe wan-en lingivalves-ie ond tofvariatidl s of fluid -pre. ,u-reradmittel by the lni'aiii supply villi-"6 and are so arrangcdthattheoperation of one vale-re is dependent upongthe ope-ration of the preceding valve. By such an arrangement a n'iinimuin number of nozzles are opened,

which will at once afford a passage to the iiib' t i i Tihrough a-suitable rod 14; .ThesleevelQ is f mounted on a governor standard 1 and is ""c'onnec'ted with governor balls .16 in: Such a way "that itf will occupy diiier'ent posit-ions V m,, i ea an;Lianne;1a, with was A CQRPOR AZT,ION.OF PENNSYLEANIA; Y

i shaman Letters 1 909.

1966. Serial no. 306,844.

fluid supplied by the main supplyvalve and insure an eificient operation 0 the turbine.

: The nozzle-controlling valves areiiperated successively and independent of the number of controlling Valves utilized, thelirst controlling valve may be arranged to open when the main supply valve is supplying approximately full pressure to the fluid passages and the succeeding valves be arranged to open when the preceding group ofln'ozzles are receiving practically full pressu'rei' The single sheet drawings accompanying this application and forming apart thereof illustrate in partial longitudinal section a turbine-controlling mechanism. embodying my invention.

Annular rows of blades 2 are mounted on a rotor (not shown), which is inclosed within a stationary casing 3. .Motive fluid sup- 7 and 8 communicating with valve chambers which are located within the fluid passage 5, and are provided'with suitable controllingvalves. A main supply valve .9 com'muni cates with the fluid passage 52nd is adapted 1 to supply motive fluid to the nozzles periodically or in putts, the duration of each puff, or the amount of fluid supplied by the valve, being dependent upon the load demand or the variations in speed of the turbine. The

valve 9 may be of any type, but as illustrated is an'ordinary double piston valve, the stem 10 of which is connected by,su1table links and levers to a governor-controlled lever 11, which is fulcrumed on a recipro- -'ca ting"collar rotatably mounted on a recipoc'at'ing f'sleeve 1: l2 oi the: governor, is e'riodi'cally oscillated- 1 ,by an eccentric l3 along the governor standard corresponding 't'othe governor balls. By this'arrangment th-ValYe Q is periodically opcned 'by'the eccentric 13 through the operation ofthe lever 11 and the amount of the opening is dependent upon the position of the reciprocating sleeve 12. The sleeve 12 occupies positions, relative to the governor standard, ins, and the 1 eciprocating sponding"to the load dein for diflerent speeds of the turb throw of the Valve stem while" varies with the speed of the valve difl'ere H turbine and a'mjo its, corre- Whilejl have illustrated my invention in ennectioii with a pulsating'valve, I do'not h tofl-imit myselfto any specific construcona'nd therefore, for the sake of clearness, "will. first describe my invention in connecalve.

' to the annular rows of blades 2." The admisbottom'of the piston 31. Under such conditions the sion portions of the nozzles of the group 7 are inclosed within a chamber 17 which communicates with the fluid passage 5 through a port 18. ,A valve disk 19 is adapted to control'the'amount of fluid admitted to the chamber 17 and is provided with a valvestem 20, which extends through a cylinder 21 and into a cylinder 22 of the valvecontrolling mechanism. A piston 23, mounted on the valve stem 20, operates in the cylinder 21 and a piston, mounted on the valve stem 20, operates with the cylinder 22.

Motive fluid is supplied to the cylinder 22 above the piston 24: through a pipe 25, which communicates with a pipe 26. The pipe 26 communicates with the main supply pipe at 34: and discharges the fluid passing through it into a fluid passage of the turbine of lower pressure than the initial. stage. The pipe 26 is provided with a valve 27 which is adapted to restrict the flow of fluid and reduce the.

fluid pressure delivered by the pipe.

spring 28 is mounted between the piston 24 and the end of the cylinder 22 and operates in conjunction with the fluid pressure admitted through the pipe 25. A pipe 29 connects the portion of the cylinder 22 below the piston 2% with the fluid passage 5. The 23, which operates in the cylinder 21, is exposed to thefluid pressure of the passage 5 and the portion of the cylinder 21 above the piston 23 communicates with the chamber 17 through a passage fluid pressure on the bottom of the piston 23 is balanced by the fluid pressure on the valve disk 19, the fluidpressure ofthe chamber 17 on the bottom of disk 19 is balanced by the fluid pressure above fluid pressure in the lower portlon of the chamber 22, which tends to raise the valve different 9 ionfwith, an ordinary governor-controlled the piston 23, and the disk 19 uncover the port is opposed by the pressure of, the sp 'duced fluid pressure in ring 28 and the rethe top portion ofthe cylinder-'22.

- The admission portions of the nozzles of the group 8 are inclosed within a chamber 17, which is rovided with avalve-con,- trolled port 18 The port 18' is controlled by a valve 1.9, which is provided with a valve-operating mechanism. similar. to the mechanism of the controlling valve of the nozzles of the group 7. The top portion of a cylinder 22' of the valve-controlling mech anlsm is provided with a pipe 25, which connects with the pipe 26 and supplies fluid pressure to the cylinder above a piston 24. A passage 33 connects the lower portion of the cylinder 22 below the iston 24 with the passage 31 of the control ing mechanism of the group 7 and a passage 31 connects the upper portion of a cylinder .21 with the chamber 17 A piston 23 of the controlling mechanism of the group 8, and whichoperates in the cylinder 21, is subjected on the lower side to the fluid pressure in the pipe 5.

The operation of the nozzle-controlliiig devices is as follows: When the turbine slows down a predetermined amount "the valve 9 opens sufliciently to'a-dmit more fluid to the fluid passage 5 than the nozzles of the group 6 can deliver to the working passages of the turbine, pressure at once begins to pile up in the passage 5 and speed of the turbine the flow of motive fluid through the passa e 5 is so restricted that the pressure is su cient to open the valve controlling T and admit fluid to the turbine throu" hthe nozzles of the groups .6 and 7. inthe pipe 26 maintains a pressure in the top portion of the cylinder 22. which is a predetermined amount less than. the pressure of steam at 3st, andwhich, in conjunction with the spring 28, is eiiective, during" the normal operation of the turbine, in closing the port 18 in opposition to the fluid pressure in the lower portion of the cylindefi 2. The pressure in the lower portion of thecylinder 22 is sufficient, at a duction of speed of the turbine and thef'cfonr sequent opening of the valve 9, to overbalance the adjusted fluid pressure and the spring pressure and raise the disk 19 and thereby admit the group 7. raise as the at a predetermined speed of the turbine decreases until at a predetermined reduction of speed motive fluid to the nozzles of The disk 19 will continue to nozzles of the group 7 than they a the admission port of the group The va vs 27 predeterminedresition when th'e pressure in the chamber 17 asse , of; the valve disk 11) the prcssurc'in the chaincylinder 22" her 17-is' suflicientlto ,raise the disk 19 by acting through thetyuissages 31 and against.

the;piston 24 an inTopp'osition 'tothe ad fjiisted" fluidpressurc in' the top portion of the J and "the pressure of i the spring a flhe dlsli 19- Wlll continue to rise an n "ffadii'iitnno'rej fluid to the-noz'zles ofthe group ":soon untilall the valyes are open. Under 8 while thespressure in the chamber 17 increases-anduvilldiave reachediits highest pois-equal to the pressure in the passage 0.

" Thepressure in the chamber-17, due-to therestri cting efl'ect otthe nozzles of the group 8,w1ll open the next succeedingvalve and such condition'the nozzle opening of the turbineis-proportioned in accordance with the port opening of thevalve 9 or in accordance With-the load demand and one group of nozzles starts admitting steam only after the preceding group is operating efliciently and supplying a maximumamount of motive fluid to the xvprklng passages'of the turbine. -By"-utihzingboiler pressure in con unction-wvith't the spring pressure to close the controllingvalves, the valves will operate eflectively po matter What thelboiler or full ressnre ma be and moreover the last valve to'open Will-supply steam to its respective group of nozzles 1n accordance with the variations of speed of the turbine andthe function of-governing the turbine, While always dependent on the valve 9, will be accomplished bythe last opened controlling *valve. As the load on the turbine diminishes and the speed increases, the valves will close successively, the last opened valve closing first-andso on until at a predetermined speed of the turbine the-valve 19 starts to close and torestrictthe flow of fluid through the port '18 and thereby decreases the pressure in the chamber 17. At a predetermined speed of the turbine the pressure in the valve chamber 17 is decreased to-such an extent that the pressure exerted by the spring 28 and the reduced-fluid pressure in the top portion of.

the cylinder 22predominates and closes the valve 19?. crease in speech-the pressure 1n the valve so I 'cha'inbe'rh decreases until the reduced pres- As the'turbine continues to in "sure in the top portion of-the cylinder f in" con unction with the pressure ot the spring 28 predominates and closes the valve 19. Motive fluidis then supplied to the turbinethrough the-'nozzlesof the group 6 only,

land the --'governing' of the turbine is dependent'upo'n the amount-01 fluid supplied by; the valve=9.' By controllingthe operation of one controlling valve through thepreceding valve, in the order of operation, the governing function of theturbine is accomplished with butva slight variation of speed and the-first controlling valve-may 'b e arranged to on n at approximately full presopen by a variation in}. pressure 9, as has been described Will admit steamto their respective nozzles stream and the valve- 19 -.Wil1 respond: to}; the.

,Jized v-for carrying out my, inventigiig and il do not gvish to limit m'yselftdth'e with hand-operated valves or any -1. 31a an elastic fluid turbinepal governor sure, the succeeding valves being caused t0 1n the passage 5 of only aite v pounds. I

In t the mechanism as j llustrated, .the waive is adapted,- through? the operation of the eccentric l3 to supply motive'fluid to-the'tiuid passage 51.1

' Durin'g thenormal operation of tlieturb'iiie the valve-operating mechanism and the valve 9 isarranged to reciprocate-and toiperiodically supply such amounts of fluid as the-nozzles of the-group 6 can readily-deliveritmthe blades 2.

'theturbineiin-regulable amounts. At a still further slowing down of the turbine, the disk 32 of the valve 9 will continue to reciprocate but will never entirely closeithevalve 9o I a and motive fluid will be admitted tothe tut-- 'bine in a continuous, though {pulsating stream. The controlling-valves of the nozzle groups 7, 8,-etc., fWlll respondtothe variations in the passage 5 andiwlnlegpulsatiug At a certain speedofrthe turbine thevalve 19 will respond to the periodic variations of pressure in the'passage 5 windmill-periodically admit steam to'the nozzleslof the: group 7 At a, predeterminedpressure inithepassage 5 thevalve 1-9 will cease to close the port .18 during its pulsations and-.fluid-will-then be admitted to the n0zzles:7 in a continuous 1 05 variations of pressure in' the elramber'li' start to periodically admit fluid to the non zles of the group 8 and so 'on'until-asutficient' numberof nozzles are open 'to operate tthe turbine-under the (5X1StlI1g-O0Hdltl0n5. As' 1.10

the load decreases-andtheturbine startsrto speed up; the last opened controlling {valve will close and'the precedingvalvewill start' to periodically close. Astheload continues to decrease the controlling valve-will suoll'a cessively cease to supply motiveifluid'to the I turbine until all are closed and only Ithe nozzles of thegroup'ti aresupplying fluid in regulable amounts to the turbine.

Various other arrangementsmay be futilconstruction sho vn or to any specific of valves, as vit,may',be ut hzecl j n co i i H M controlled valve, and various other "ch -may bemsd'e and still-fall within-the s p i r and scope of this-invention; V WVhat-I claim-as new and'usefulis;

. controlled mainsupply valve, a, plurality fluid pressure deliveredby said main valvefor proportioning nozzles'commumcating therewithand ad apted to deliver motive fluid to the turbine, a plurality of interdependent valves controlling the delivery of motive fluid through said nozzles and' means sensitive to variations of the number of effective nozzles in accordance with the load demand. 2. In anelastic fluid turbine, a governor controlled main supply valve, a plurality of nozzles communicating therewith and adapted to supply motive fluid to the turbine,

I a 'plurality of interdependent valves connozzles and means .sensitiv trolling the delivery, ole-fluid through said' dvariations of aid mam supply tlng said nozzle fluid. pressure supplied by valve, for successively opera valves.

In an elastic fluid turbine, a supply valve, a plurality of nozzles communicating therewith, a plurality of controlling valves adaptedto control the amount of fluid supplied to certain of said nozzles, means sensi- I a spring pressure,

tive to the variations of fluid pressure admitted by said main" supply valve whereby 'd controlling valves are held closed by a refgula'blc fluid pressure in conjunction with and means dependent upon the amount of fluid supplied by .said main supply] valve for overpowering said regula' fluid and spring pressure and opening said; alves.

' 4" an elastic fluid turbine, a main supply e a series of auxiliary valves communicatiiig therewith, a plurality of nozzles Di. iuxiliary valve of said series, and means dependent upon the amount of fluid-pressure supplied by each auxiliary valve for opening the next succeeding valve of said series.

5. In angelastic fluid turbine, a main sup- 'ply--valve,' a serles of auxiliary valves .re-

ceiving motive fluid therefrom, means deendent upon the amount of fluid supplied y said supply valve for opening the first valve of said series, and means dependent upon the motive fluid supplied by each valve Ils f0! opening the succeeding valve of said series. I i

6. In an elast1c fluid turbine, a mam sup- 1y valve, a plurality of nozzles communicatngtherewith, a series of auxiliary valves receiving motive fluid from sa d supply valve,

I a plurality of auxiliary nozzles communicatdependent upon ing with each of-said auxiliary valves, means the amount of fluid supplied said supply valve for opening the first save ofsaid series,

;supplied by said the said auxiliary valve in accordance with supplied by said supply and means dependent upon the amount of fluid supplied ofsaid auxiliary valves for open'mg ceedmg valve of said series.

7. In an elastic fluid turbine, a main supply. val ve,an auxiliary valve communicating therewith and adapted to receive motive fluid SllC- therefrom, means sensitive to the variations of fluid pressure sup lied b said su l valve whereby said au xiliary ivalve is clliged by a combination of fluid and spring pressure, and means dependent upon the fluid supply valve for opening the load demand. p

8. In an elasticv fluid turbine, a main supply valve, a plurality of nozzles communicating therewith, a plurality of controlling valves adapted to control the amount of fluid supplied to certain of said nozzles, mechanisms whereby the fluid passing said supply valve is caused to pulsate, and means sensitive to the variations of fluid pressure supplied by said supply valve for closing said controlling valves.

9. In an elastic fluid turbine, a main supply valve, a plurality of nozzles communicating therewith, a plurality of controlling valves adapted to control the amount of fluid supplied to said nozzles, mechanisms whereby the fluid passing said main supply valve is caused to pulsate, means sensitive to the variations of pressure admitted by said main supply valve whereby said controlling valves are held closed by regulable fluid and spring pressure, and means dependent upon the amount of fluid supplied by said main supply valve for overpowering said regulable fluid and spring pressure and opening said valves.

10. In an elastic fluid turbine, a main supply valve, a series of auxiliary valves communicating therewith, a plurality of nozzles communicating with said auxiliary valves, means whereby the fluid passing said main supply valve is caused to pulsate, agents sensitive to the variations of fluid pressure valve whereby said auxiliary valves are yieldingly held closed, means dependent upon the amount of fluid supplied by said main supply valve for overcoming said agents and openmg the first auxiliary valve of said serves, and means dependent uponthe amount of fluid pressure suppliedby each auxiliary valve ror opening the succeeding valve of said series 1 11. in anelastic fluid turbine, a main supply valve, a series of auxiliary valves receiving motive fluid therefrom, mechamsms whereby the fluid passing said supply valve is caused to pulsate, means dependent upon the amount of fluid supplied by sa d supply valve for opening the first valve of said series, sand means dependent upon the motive fluid supplied /by each auxiliary valve tor opening the succeeding valve of said series. 130

r 12. Juan elastic fluid i'turliine, a main supplyvalve,aplurality of nozzles communicatmg- -therew1tl1, a series of auxiliary valves receiving motive fluid from said supply valve, a p1ural 1ty of auxiliarynozzles com- I munieatmg with a each of .said auxiliary valv'es', mechanisms whereby the fluid passd ing said main supply valve is caused to pulflnid Supplied by said supply valve for opena-nd means dependent upon the amount of fluid supplied by each of said auxiliary valves for said series.

ply valve, an auxiliary su ply valve com mun1cat 1n g. therewith and a apted'to receive motive flnld therefrom, means whereby the 2oafluid passing said supply valve is caused to 1 'puls'ate, means sensitive to the variations of .'the fluid pressure supplied by the said main -valve-whereby said auxiliary valve is closed byfa combination of fluid and'spring pres: sure, and'means dependent upon the fluid pressure supplied by said main valve for opening said auxiliary valve in accordance with the load demand. I

14. I11 an elastic fluid turbine, a main supply valve, an auxiliary valve between said main supply valve and the working passages of said turbine, afluid pressure and springrestrained' agent for closing said auxiliary valve and means dependent upon the amount of fluid delivered by said main valve for oviercoming saidagent to opensaid auxiliary va ve.

15. In an elasticfluid turbine, a main supply valve, a series of auxiliary valves between sald main valve and the working passages of the turbine, fluid pressure and s ring-restrained agents sensitrve to the va-- nations of fluid pressure supplied by said main valve for closing saidauxiliary valves, means dependent upon the amount of fluid supplied by said main valve for opening the first auxiliary valve of said series and means dependent upon the amount of fluid pressure supplied by each auxiliary valve to the working passages of the turbine for opening the next succeeding valve of the series.

16. In an elastic fluid turbine, a main supplyvalve, a series of auxiliary valves between said main valve and the working passages of the turbine, fluid pressure and spring-restrained agents sensitive to the vanations of fluid pressure supplied by sald main valve for closing said auxiliary valve, means dependent upon the amount of fluid supplied by said main valve for opening the first auxiliary valve of said series, means deendent upon the amount of fluid supplied to the working passages of the turbine by each auxiliary valve for opening the next succeedingvalve of the series and mechansate, means dependent upon theamount of ing the first auxiliary valve, of said series,

opening the succeeding valve of .13; In an elastic fluid turbine, a main sup-- valve. for

supply valvegiscaused to pulsate. 1.

7 17. In an elastic fluid turbine, a main supply valve, a seriesfof. auxiliary valves-r between sa1dInain supplylvalve and thefworkmg passages of the turbine, fluid pressure andspring-restrained agents for closingsaid auxiliary valves, means dependent-upon the operation of said main valve for opening. the first valve of said seriesand means de endent upon the operation. of each'auxiliary opening the next-succeeding valve of said series. a

18. In an elastic fluid turbine, a main supplyvalve, a series of auxiliary, valves be tween said main supplyval-ve. andtthevvork- 1 mg passages of the turbine, means.- dependent upon the operation ofsaid main, valve for opening the first valve of said, series and means dependent uponthe operation of; each auxiliary valve for; opening flthe ,next succeeding valve of said series. 9

19. Inan elastic'fluid turbine, a plurality of nozzle-control valves, agovernor-com trolled .valve supplying motive fluid to said nozzle-control valves and interdependent actuating means for each of said nozzle valves and sensitive to variations of fluid pressure admitted by said governor-controlled valv and operating to successively actuate said valves.

20. In an elastic fluid turbine, a plurality of nozzle-control valves, a governor-controlled valve supplying, motive fluid thereto and actuating means for each of said nozzlecontrol valves coupled in series and sensitive to variations of fluid pressure delivered by said governor valve.

21. In an elastic fluid turbine, a main supply valve, .a series of auxiliary valves re- 1 ceiving' motive fluid therefrom and interdependent actuating means for each of said auxiliary valves and sensitive to variations of fluid pressure admitted by said main supply valve, and: operating to successively 1 actuate said auxiliary valves.

22. -In.an elastic fluid turbine, 21 main supply valve, a series of auxiliary valves receivingmotive fluid therefrom, actuat ng means for each of said auxiliary valves sensi- 115 1 tive to variationspf fluid pressure admitted by said main supply valve and coupled inseries one with the other and means for causing said main supply valve to pulsate the fluid delivered to said auxiliary valves. 1

23. In an elastic fluid turbine,'a main supply valve, a series of auxiliary valves receiving motive fluid therefromand operating in parallel and lnterdependent actuating means for each of said auxiliary valves coupled in series one with the other and operating to successively actuate said valves,

24. In an elastic fluid turbine, a main supply valve, a series of auxiliary valves re-' ceiving motive fluid therefrom and operatv valves, and means forcausin one or, more" of said aux liary valves topu sate th'e fluid 1 meansfor valves to' pulsate the fluid passing therethrough, I v

25. In an elastic fluid turbine, a main sup ply valve, a series. ofauxiliary valves re-' ceiving motive fluid therefrom, in te rdepend' cnt actuating means for each of saidyaux iliary valves, pressureadmitted by said main supply I passing therethrough.

u a .main 1 supply valve casing inopen communication with the turbine blades or vanes, a' plurality of auxiliary valve casings receiving. motive; fluid the're- .7 from and means sensitive to variationwof fluid pressure delivered from said main sup; v

sensitive to variations of. fliii(l*v ply valve cas' successively operating the said auxiliary valves. a I

' 27.1111 an elastic fluid turbine, a main supply valve, a plurality ofauxiliary valves reby said auxiliary valves, for successively o erating .said auxtlirougli:

:In testimony w'hereof, I have hereunto subscribed ny'name' this 16th day of March,

v RAYMOND N. EHRHART. .Witnesses: i i GHARLEs W. 'McGm, W. MCGALLISTER.

[and responsive to fluid pres I sure d livered y said auxiliary valves for V :ceiving motive'fluid therefrom, means, sensi- 'tive to variations of 'fiu'id'pressure delivered by said main supply valve and responsive to- ,fluid pressure delivered 'iliai'y valves "and means or causing one of said valves to pulsate the fluid passing there- 

